Thursday, May 21, 2009

No Mo' Dogs at Wanna-Wanna


Well shit. Bob the owner of the Wanna-Wanna pulled me aside today and said the Code Enforcement had issued orders that they would no longer allow any dogs. Violators could get a hefty fine, like $500. The reason was a dog that bit some kid down by Boomerang Billy's. It was a very small bite from what I heard, a mere nip. Several locals said the dog was a really nice mutt and the kid was harassing it. But the notice came and Bob told me in a nice way.

Well phooey, no late lunch there with my pup, no walks from those steps, no doggie bones that magically appeared from behind the bar, no buckets of water to slake the thirst, no puppy attention - and I guess no more money from me when my dog has the urge to go there. It was rather depressing.

This town is starting to have a major Sucking-Factor.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I used to ride my beach cruiser with my Yellow Lab on a long leash and when we would get near Wannas she would pull really hard toward the bar. I guess she just associated the place with water and burger bits on the floor, but I convinced myself that she wanted me to have a beer. That ordinance has been on the books for a very long time and has gone through phases of no enforcement to phases of crack downs. I guess they are in a crack down phase. It is an uncivilized ordinance in the first place if you ask me.

Sam said...

Wanna-Wanna owner Bob said they fought that ordinance for the last 8 years, since that bar was "grandfathered" because it had been there since dirt was invented, the late 50s. I guess he lost...

islandprincess said...

My condolences, Sam, seriously. I know how losing a favorite watering hole kind of closes a certain chapter in your life. I have had to close some chapters and their passing is sad. Sorry :(

Anonymous said...

Civilization is rearing its ugly head once again

"I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before."

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Sam said...

That was funny you mentioned Mark Twain, who often depicted "civilized" man as snake oil salesmen, false kings, impostors, quacks, religious idiots, scammers, thieves, gamblers, and well, just plain mean. We really haven't come a long way since then, have we?

I highly recommend "Letters from Hawaii" if you like Twain. It's short and sweet, good summer reading, and had me howling in laughter.

Anonymous said...

Sam, I also recommend Following The Equator and Roughing It as far as Twain's travel stuff. He had to hit the road , write and give speeches about it to take care of his debts. Tough for him to some extent I guess but great for posterity. I wonder what he would have to say about spiforum.

Thomas

Sam said...

Hey Thomas, I don't believe I've ever read 'Following The Equator' so thanks for the tip.

I haven't been back to the Wanna since that fateful day, but you know I will because it's a million dollar view with 4-dollar drinks, and the Bongo Dogs play there Saturday. Hey, Bongo DOGS? Are they still allowed there?

As to what ole Sam Clemens would say about SPI Forum, I'm sure he would either avoid them like the plague, or abuse and mock them in satire of the worst kind. The Mark Twain house in Hartford, Connecticut was once reviled as having horrendously shocking colors, bad design, and the locals complained it was ruining the city. Sound familiar?

My kinda guy!

Anonymous said...

I am sorta taking a bit of a hiatus from the SPIF also, Sam...although it sometimes serves a purpose to me as a connection the island. Recently though, there were more bitter, racist things being said about beach access and I just can't stomach it or lecture to those bitter, twisted, brain damaged old farts anymore because it is probably bad Karma for me and won't have any effect upon them. You know, I left the place as a full time resident 12 years ago and still can't leave it behind, but I do not miss people who think like that one bit.

Hey, did you know that you and I were born in the same year? (1956).

Thomas